US retail sales miss expectations

International / 12 June 2014, 6:48pm

Reuters

Washington - US retail sales rose less than expected in May and first-time applications for unemployment benefits increased last week, but that will probably do little to change views that the economy is regaining momentum.

The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales gained 0.3 percent last month.

While that was below economists' expectations for a 0.6 percent rise, April's retail sales were revised to show a 0.5 percent increase.

Retail sales, which account for a third of consumer spending, had previously been reported have gained 0.1 percent in April.

In a separate report, the Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits climbed 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 317,000 for the week ended June 7.

With job growth rising solidly in May and manufacturing and services industries expanding strongly, the retail and jobless claims reports probably will not cause too much anxiety.

US stock index futures edged lower on the data, while prices for US Treasury debt rose.

Economic growth in the second quarter is expected to top a 3.0 percent annual pace after contracting at a 1.0 percent rate in the January-March period.

So-called core retail sales, which strip out automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, and correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, were unchanged last month.

However, they were revised to show a 0.2 percent rise in April, instead of the previously reported 0.1 percent dip.